MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG Midget and Sprite Technical - MG TF rear suspension in a Midget

Just to distract people from another thread I started, has anyone ever thought of fitting MG TF complete rear suspension (including the subframe) along with an IRS type diff to a midget?

MG TF because it isn't Hydro-lastic. Might need to narrow the track a bit but it might be do-able.

Any thoughts anyone?

Rob
Rob aka MG Moneypit

Im not overly familiar with pre wars, but those suspensions always looked really heavy, over built and robost

What is it you would want to accomplish with such an adventure

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Prop,

The MG TF replaced the MGF, I guess that's one Rob is talking about.

Doesn't the TF still use subframes ?

Malc
Malc Gilliver

You're thinking mid-50's T type Prop. I think this is a reference to the later MG 2 seater built in the 90's.
Can't imagine any one wanting to put the T-type supension on a Midget - that would be a backward step!
Graeme Williams

Hi Prop. It's the later TF, the one that didn't make it to the USA.

See Ebay item 121293550462 as an example. This was rear engined K series 1.6 or 1.8 and they are going for peanuts at the moment.

Rob
Rob aka MG Moneypit

A really nice turn of phrase from Prop that I'll try and remember and use myself:

'What is it you would want to accomplish with such an adventure'.

Daniel Stapleton

Prop beat me to it, that was my first thought! Erm... Why would you want to other than for something to do? (Which can be a perfectly valid reason!).

Have you searched ebay for subframes? Ģ40-ish quid, for that money you can get a frame and just see if it is viable or just a waste of time.

Or just buy an MG TF then the subframe fits quite nicely to the back of one of those! ;-)

Malcolm

M Le Chevalier

Well, the TF comes with coil over independent suspension, hubs and calipers with discs, decent drive shafts and is adjustable (to a degree). All the setup needs is an IRS diff mounted somehow and two equal length driveshafts (I think the TF has one long and one short)

If it works it must be an improvement in ride quality, road holding and power handling. An ideal combination with a K series up front!!

A couple of hundred quid and a few months development. Anyone fancy a go?

Rob
Rob aka MG Moneypit

ROFLMAO....

OMG... I didnt know what to think, I thought rob had lost it, haha...but hey, if someone wants to try something like that, im not getting in the way...I want to see that happen.

Danial... your welcome to use it in your next books....it seemed like a good phrase at the time to cover several.differant thoughts I had at the same time

A midget Frankensteined with a TF = funny

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Interesting idea. Couple of considerations would be along the lines of mounting the subframe and diff, the fact that the driveshafts would be quite short.

Would you go sliding joint? I think the tf will have sliding gearbox splines, not sure if all irs diffs are such beasties.

The p6 has fixed length driveshafts at the back but you get a lot of track change on suspension movement.

It'd be a different beast from the tf, as it'd be a lot narrower.

Tbh you'd probably be better off starting with a pile of 2 inch box section and doing it from scratch, at least then you can get it exactly as it needs to be and not a strange compromise. You'd probably end up doing the same amount of calculating to get anything remotely working well, bearing in mind my personal experience that it's not as simple as front or back, they are very linked and you'd have to balance the new rear with mods at the front to make it work well.

Or starting with an irs back end from a front engined car like an mx5.

I'm not saying it can't be done, but it won't be a straightforward job, which is why there are not many irs midgets!
Rob Armstrong

I don't really have the ability to design from first principles but I do have the ability to modify something and have the expectation that after the mods the angles and inclinations are close to the designers intended figures.
I might just see what I can pick up locally, cheap enough to not matter if I have to throw it away.

Rob
Rob aka MG Moneypit

If you were going to put the tf subframe in the back why not go the whole hog and have a mid engined midget if the subframe can be made to fit leave the engine in it then you don't have to find a suitable irs dif

Gary
G.J. Puxty

Where would you sit? :-) ;-) :-P
Rob Armstrong

Gary. I like your thinking but in my case I would like to keep some semblence of a Midget.

Would it be possible to attach the front 3/4 of a Midget to the rear 1/4 of an MGF?

Rob
Rob aka MG Moneypit

was there a midget tub with this type of modification at MGLive about 10 years ago done by MLR with some local college close to them. As I recall it the hardware was mounted in a fram e that bolted in using original mounting points.
l snowdon

That was Tony Boltonīs from MoorLane Garage (MLG).

Always puzzeled me why nobody dived into that, it may not be a big market but its like the K-conversions theres about atleast 100 of them outhere now...
A de Best

This thread was discussed between 12/03/2014 and 24/03/2014

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.